In contrast to a week ago, when the fledgling County Renegades played very well for a quarter and a half and actually led the defending-champion Mustangs of Madawaska early, they were never in the game last Saturday against one of the GNYFL’s two remaining undefeated teams.
It was 21-0 in the second quarter before County’s Joe Silliboy (Hodgdon) finally got the homestanding boys from southern Aroostook and Carleton counties on the board with a 50-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, to make it 21-6.
“We just didn’t play well in any phase of the game, except possibly kick returns and kick coverage,” said head coach Steve Martin. “It doesn’t help that we are only able to practice twice a week due to the distances involved, when the better teams in this league practice four and five times a week.”
Pioneer Times photograph/Joseph Cyr
TACKLED — Hodgdon’s Devon Targonski gets sandwiched between two Eagle defenders in last Saturday’s game.
The 4-0 Eagles of Central Maine (China) rolled up over 400 yards of offense, doing most of that damage on the ground. Branden Metten and Nick Mason combined for 227 yards and five rushing touchdowns. Mike Caouette caught two touchdown passes, and hauled in a deflating interception from quarterback Devon Targonski (Hodgdon.) Meanwhile, the Renegades quarterbacks were under constant assault, throwing three interceptions, including a pick six, and fumbling twice as well.
“We just clicked today,” said Eagles Head Coach Erv Morrison. “That was the best we’ve played, in terms of everyone doing what they are supposed to do.”
“You can’t give the ball away five or six times and expect to have a chance against a veteran club like Central Maine,” said assistant coach Chris Bond. “We’ve got to do a better job of pass blocking, and that will be a definite emphasis this week,” added line coach Randy Challoux.
The Renegades also had one of their poorest games statistically. Running back Jed Grant (GHCA) was held to his lowest output of the season, rushing 11 times for just 33 yards. Quarterback Dakota Reinhardt (Katahdin) was next with six carries for 32.
“Our run blocking was just atrocious all day,” said Martin. “I really don’t understand why, with our size, we aren’t doing a better job up front, and we will have to address this down the stretch.”
Reinhardt managed eight of 14 for 45 yards and a four-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Russell (Katahdin, his third receiving touchdown of the season) in the fourth quarter. The Renegades’ other quarterback, Targonski was knocked around unmercifully and finished three of nine for minus four yards.
“We should get a reprieve this week with (winless) Caribou coming in,” said defensive coordinator Wayne England. “But then we have two tough road games to finish the year. Growing pains … that’s what we are seeing right now. Every new team goes through it.”
Defensively, the Renegades were led by Grant (eight tackles), Colby Seely of Woodstock (five tackles and a sack), Sam Geary of GHCA (seven tackles,) with Russell and Brandon Suitter (Hodgdon) notching five takedowns a piece.
The Caribou Huskies have forfeited their game with the Renegades for Saturday at McIntyre Field in Hodgdon.
